THE GODS OF EDUCATION

Should temple funds be used for building colleges? An old debate about state control of temples heats up with political rhetoric in poll-bound Tamil Nadu

- By Kavitha Muralidharan

CONTROL OVER TEMPLES— and, more to the point, temple funds—has been historically an emotive point of contention between traditionalists and rationalists in the South. The former prefer autonomy for the religious sphere and see any apparent overreach by the latter as a transgression—it’s also an easy way to raise public passions. The latest shot across the bow came in a campaign remark by AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS). Speaking during a statewide tour, he accused the ruling DMK of misusing temple funds for purposes unrelated to religion. That has escalated into a wider clash involving electoral strategies, the law, and the legacy of Dravidian politics.

“Even seeing temples irritates the DMK,” EPS told crowds in Coimbatore. “They are taking all the temple money and building colleges. People like you, with good hearts, donate into hundiyals for temple development. That money goes to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department. They're diverting it. Isn’t it unfair? Shouldn’t the government fund colleges from its own resources?”